Steam production from cooling liquid in combustion chambers



H. GODDARD STEAM PRODUCTION FROM Oct. 17, 1950 R, 2,526,219

COOLING LIQUID IN coususnou CHAMBERS Filed May 7, 1947 INVENTOR. Dead.

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ATTORN EY Goddazd, 55% G .oddazd, area BY. 6M M Patented Oct. 17, 1950 STEAM LIQUID Robert H. Goddard,

Md., by Esther C.

PRODUCTION FROM COOLING IN COMBUSTION CHAMBERS deceased, late of Annapolis, Goddard, executrix, Worcester, Mass., assignor of one-half to The Daniel and Florence York, N. Y., a corporat Application May '7, 1947. Serial No. 746,616 3 Claims. (01. 60-46) This invention relates to combustion chambers of the type used in propulsion apparatus, and relates more particularly to the production of steam from the cooling liquid used in such combustion chambers.

It is the general object of this invention to provide an improved construction by which dry steam may be obtained, while the unvaporized part of the liquid film remains in the combustion chamber to provide further cooling action.

The invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a partial longitudinal sectional eleva- I tion of a combustionchamber embodying this invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are transverse sectional elevations. taken along the lines 2-4 and 8-4 in F g- 1, respectively;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailsectional view of a certain part, taken on the line 4-4 in Fig. 1; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are detail transverse sections, taken along the lines 5-5 and 6-8 in Fig. 4 respectively.

Referring to the drawing. a combustion charm.- ber C is shown, which is provided with the usual discharge nozzle N. The chamber C receives a cooling liquid, as water, through a supply pipe ill and volute ii, and this liquid is tangentially delivered into the chamber 0 through inclined gorts or openings i2 in the wall H of the cham- The liquid thus introduced travels circumferentially along the inner surface of the chamber wall l4 and forms a protecting or cooling film thereon, which film is gradually vaporized as it travels spirally toward the nozzle N with the combustion gases. At a point adjacent the discharge end of the chamber 0, a second volute 20 is provided. in which steam is to be collected for discharge through a delivery pipe 2!.

If the port openings into the volute 20 are made directly in the wall I, similar to the liquidinlet ports l2, unevaporated portions of the liquid film will enter these latter port openings, and the steam delivered through the pipe 2| may be quite wet.

In order to obtain dry steam, a series of depressed portions 30 are displaced inwardly in the v chamber wall l4 adjacent the volute 20. These Guggenheim Foundation, New

ion oi New York bustion chamber and as indicated by the arrows a in Fig. 1. I

With'this construction, the ports 32 will be inside of the path of the unevaporated liquid, which liquid closel contacts the wall H, but said ports will be positioned to collect and deliver part of the steam which is produced by vaporization at the inner face of the liquid film. Consequently, the liquid remaining in the cooling film passes by the depressed portions and radially outside of the ports 32,-while the inwardly associated and relatively dry steam is in part collected through these ports and is thereafter delivered through the pipe 2|. This dr-y steam will commonly contain a minor proportion of combustion gases. 7 v

The degree of dryness of the steam may be controlled by varying the distance by which the ports 32 are inwardly ofiset from the inner face of the chamber wall i4.

,Having thus described the invention and the advantages thereof, it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited 'to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what is claimed is:'

1. In propulsion apparatus, a combustion chamber, means to introduce a cooling liquid to said chamber and to form a. helically-moving peripheral film thereof on the inner surface of the side wall of said combustion chamber, and means to withdraw a fluid which largely co mprises vaporized cooling liquid under pressure from said chamber, said latter means projecting towards the axis of said chamber and through said liquid film and said latter means having intake openings positioned inwardly with respect to said film of liquid.

2. The combination in propulsion apparatus as' set forth in claim 1, in which the intake openings 0 for the fluid are formed in inwardly depressed portions of the combustion chamber wall.

3. The combination in propulsion apparatus as set forth in claim 2, in which said depressed portions extend longitudinally in the direction I 01' helical flow of said liquid fllm,,and in which the intake openings are in the ends of said depressed portions which are approached by said film.

ESTHER, C. GODDARD.

so Ezecutrix of the Last Will and Testament of Robert H. Goddard, Deceased.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the depressed portions 30 may have the general cross me f this patent;

section shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and are each provided with an inlet opening or port 32 in the end wall of the depressed portion 30. These ports 32 are directed toward the liquid film as said film travels spirall rearward in the com- 2,434,298

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,016,921 Goddard Oct. 8, 1935 Truax Jan. 13, 1948 

